Series: Standalone
Release Date: December 31st, 2013
Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future – until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp”. Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.
One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their past, figuring out who they are – and falling in love.
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• Threatening behaviour
• Criminality (including theft and plagiarism)
– The Hero and his friends had been conning girls romantically and then robbing them
• Cursing
• Implied sex
• Underage drinking
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
This was one of the books where you went in expecting a lot, but then reality entered the game. The Promise of Amazing is a through and through indie romance. It’s realistic in the sense that both characters go through troubles that many teens can relate to an identity crisis, popularity, friends, cliques and then the dreaded question: what do you want to do when you’re older?
Both Grayson and Wren go through these things, but where Wren is the average girl in everything she does, Grayson is the above-average superstar in everything and anything he puts his mind to. But oh ya, he just got caught for being the ‘term paper pimp.’ He’s a Cheater.
Now in most reviews, Wren seems to be the character that most readers don’t like. And why is that? Sure she complains, but who wouldn’t in her position–plus she’s the youngest kid in a family of a perfect older sister, and a brother who’s already been dubbed the family screw up. But you know, it’s probably because she doesn’t have that shiny hair, or that crooked smile or that lazy smirk. Or that arrogant attitude that makes girls swoon. And yes, that’s Grayson. The guy on the downward spiral in this book.
I’m not that much of a fan of second chance romances, too much drama, and way too much miscommunication. It’s predictable, and there’s always a simple solution: TALK. But in this case, since the second chance was more of a second chance at life, where Grayson had to make his way up from being dumped far down the ladder, I thought hey, why not?
At the start of The Promise of Amazing, I found myself liking the guy, but I should have guessed that Wren and his first meeting: him acting like a rude idiot before he almost choked himself to death, was a clue to the real Grayson. But alas, our heroine Wren is the queen of second chances, so when he comes seeking her, to thank her for saving his life via the Heimlich, she amuses him by spending time with him. But even Wren can’t ignore the total bullshit that radiates from him like heat from the sun. He acted like he had multiple personalities, but only when he was candid and deep did Wren really give him a chance. Which I get, because hell, he’s hot, and troubled and obviously needs a friend. And to be honest here, if The Promise of Amazing was told entirely from Wren’s POV, I would’ve thought Grayson was a jerk and ya, an ass, but a redeemable one. But man, once you got into his head? Ugh.
So here’s Grayson, basically stalking Wren, because he’s taking this sign of almost dying to try and change his life around, and since Wren saved his life, she has to be the girl for him. Which is nice, and sweet. But the fact that Grayson is trying to have a serious relationship with Wren, while at the same time allowing his friends to manipulate and convince him to take part in their old activities, like Amsterdam (read the book to find out what that is), didn’t make any sense!
He acted utterly immature like he had no options when his “best friend” told him to do this one last time, or else. He could’ve threatened to go to the police, but oh right, he’s not a rat. But God, if he wanted to change his life around, and keep Wren, he should’ve done exactly what he didn’t. He made a fool out of his relationship with Wren, multiple times I might add, and he showed everyone that he wasn’t capable of learning from his mistakes.
That being said, The Promise of Amazing was excellently written. Constantine did a fantastic job captivating the emotional troubles that Grayson went through, and even if I don’t like him, and maybe even hated him a little bit, what he went through was hard, and it sucked, so good job to her. Also, even though a lot of people found Wren to be two-dimensional, I liked her. She was relatable in a really realistic way, because most people, especially in their teens, don’t have that much drama in her life. And Constantine did a great job of creating a normal female main character, but in the end, being okay with that. Because there isn’t anything wrong with being average.
I also found the plot of the book to be engrossing, especially when Grayson’s “friends” were added to the mix.
Would I re-read The Promise of Amazing? No. But I’m still glad I did.
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